tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post7700573831604095432..comments2024-03-13T09:47:40.487+00:00Comments on Cockpit Conversation: Half a MovieAviatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-46839064039635643982010-11-07T18:54:42.840+00:002010-11-07T18:54:42.840+00:00and that we're not helping the same people ove...<i> and that we're not helping the same people over and over again </i><br /><br />I think that you may be disappointed. Read "The road to Hell" for s fascinating, but somewhat depressing look into the International Aid industry. It describes how much of what we do, not only doesn't make things better, but actually makes then worse.A Squarednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-77196252188091983562010-11-07T18:50:02.726+00:002010-11-07T18:50:02.726+00:00I heard of a groundworks company boss who immediat...<i> I heard of a groundworks company boss who immediately sacked any operator who hadn't greased their digger/dozer/crane/whatever that morning.....weigh up the cost of grease,labour and lost profit on that hour a day and it' was probably cheaper to work it into the ground and sell it on! </i> <br /><br />I'm guessing you've never actually been in a situation to test your theory on earthmoving equipment maintenance. You don't lubricate it frequently, you're going to be fixing it, frequently. <br /><br /><br />When you're talking about equipment priced in large fractions of a million dollars, and days or weeks of down time (amd tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs) to repair worn out pivot points, a few bucks worth of grease and an hour of your operator's time a day is going to be very inexpensive by comparison.A Squarednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-79941191292372167672010-11-07T18:40:30.049+00:002010-11-07T18:40:30.049+00:00I'm kind of hoping that the label "Africa...I'm kind of hoping that the label "Africa" is misleading and that we're not helping the same people over and over again, that the people we helped in the 1970s are digging their own wells and solving their own problems now, and that it's simply ignorance of geography that makes it seem as though it's the same helpless people.<br /><br />It would be better if people could help one another and themselves. I hope too that the world is getting better at delivering aid in a sustainable way.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-82685052633280758992010-11-07T10:32:14.500+00:002010-11-07T10:32:14.500+00:00Ahh, It's a paradox of sorts, really.
I hav...Ahh, It's a paradox of sorts, really.<br /><br /> I have often wondered if"first world" people actually work to be able to afford the gismos that save them the time to be able to work!<br /><br /> Sure, the washing-machine, vacuum -cleaner,Microwave, toaster and 'Fridge are all cost-effective time-savers...but many others are in a grey-area.<br /><br /> I heard of a groundworks company boss who immediately sacked any operator who hadn't greased their digger/dozer/crane/whatever that morning.....weigh up the cost of grease,labour and lost profit on that hour a day and it' was probably cheaper to work it into the ground and sell it on!<br /> I,m quite happy to wild-camp without bed/mat etc. as long as i'm warm and dry. OTOH, If i'm paying for a specific standard of hotel, they'd better deliver.<br /><br /> It's a noble thing you are doing in Cambodia. Hopefully, this method of aid will ensure that graft and corruption will be bypassed and most of the resources will actually get to those in greatest need.<br /><br /> As a born cynic, I can't help wondering why 3 generation's worth of help has failed to help the poorer nations become self-sufficient. (current UK TV ad's for potable water-supplies in the African and Indian continents........you really mean they haven't learned to dig wells and make basic manual pumps in 50 years??? At least your way delivers the materials and, hopefully, the training for the next generation to be self-sufficient.....how long before we are faced with a similar problem in Mugabe's wasteland?.....Grr, Trix, you've set me thinking about it all, again!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11679310031767479691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-91239573018501479152010-11-06T15:29:36.124+00:002010-11-06T15:29:36.124+00:00I don't ordinarily feel guilty for having more...I don't ordinarily feel guilty for having more than the very poor - just fortunate - and I try to help when I can.<br /><br />Christians say "<i>love</i> of money is the root of all evil" ( 1 Timothy 6:10 ). Buddhists say <i>attachment</i>, including grasping for material things is the problem... not just having access to stuff.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991660841701835065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-39287068192431220292010-11-06T13:34:35.814+00:002010-11-06T13:34:35.814+00:00Dear Trix:
Zebras...you remind me of a morsel of ...Dear Trix:<br /><br />Zebras...you remind me of a morsel of wisdom from the medical world (diagnostic part) that we can all use when troubleshooting: "If you think you hear hoof-beats, look for horses, not zebras."<br /><br />Enjoy Indochina.<br /><br />FrankFrank Van Hastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821687850881538546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-50922962723330867612010-11-06T01:03:42.400+00:002010-11-06T01:03:42.400+00:00I'm sure many of you are ...
I think it boils...<i>I'm sure many of you are</i> ...<br /><br />I think it boils down to expectations. If you go to a place aware you won't have TV or Internet, it's no big deal.<br /><br />But if you march up to your room expecting normal hotel-things (hot water, door locks, towels, etc), and they're not there, it's human nature to be irritated. You (or your customer at least) are paying for all the advertised features, after all.<br /><br />It's funny the things you miss and don't miss when you travel.dpiercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03397601206317363858noreply@blogger.com